I had breast cancer surgery two years in which 20 lymph nodes had to be removed since several were found to be cancerous. As a result I have had to be very careful with the associated arm. The care ranged from wearing a compression sleeve when I fly or when putting stress on the arm from daily activities, and above all wearing protective gloves (all the way up the arm) when working outside.
Unfortunately one day I got a cellulitis infection in the arm which for a normal arm would be nothing out of the norm for the lymph system to address in no time and life would remain normal – not even noticing that a little infection took place. But with the lymph drainage exit route blocked by the removal of the lymph nodes, my arm ballooned with lymphedema. Now months later I am still fighting to get all the lymph fluid totally drained to return my arm to its normal size. This has required weekly sessions with my lymphedema therapist. The sessions include manual lymph drainage, compression wraps, and constant wearing of a compression sleeve and glove.
The compression garments are expensive and have to be replaced every couple of months. Coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema needs to be improved because the demand is an everyday occurrence for many women.
